Andy Robinson waited almost three years for his Scotland backs to clock up six
Championship tries on his watch. Scott Johnson, his successor, got there in
two games.

Has Johnson tapped into something that Robinson could not reach, or is he just the luckiest coach alive?

The Scotland players sound sincere enough when they talk of Johnson’s qualities as a coach, the clarity of his guidance and the upbeat atmosphere he creates, but there is no question that the Australian has also inherited the job at a propitious moment.

A team that could not buy tries in the past has started running them in for fun: two against England three weeks ago, four against Italy seven days later.

And all from outside backs as well: two from full-back Stuart Hogg and one apiece from centres Matt Scott and Sean Lamont and wingers Tim Visser and Sean Maitland. Staggeringly, of that group only Lamont was an international player at the beginning of last year, the rest having made their debuts since.

Scottish soothsayers tend to specialise in foreboding, but already there are whispers of a golden generation. With all allowances made for the fact that the Italian side Scotland thrashed 34-10 at Murrayfield two weeks ago was not remotely the equal of the one that had beaten France the previous weekend, the game produced some remarkable facts.

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It was the first time since 2003 that the Scots had scored four tries in a championship match, the first since 1924 that four different backs had touched down.

It is giddy stuff, so much so that Johnson has revealed a previously unknown capacity for sternness, glowering like Private Frazer as he wags a cautionary finger at all this Caledonian glee. “It’s too early to get carried away,” he said. “I think people should acknowledge the improvements, but also acknowledge the ills and see what we need to do about it.”

Eight Ireland backs were chosen for the Lions tour to South Africa in 2009. Scotland cannot hope for anything like that representation in Australia later this year, but a home win at Murrayfield on Sunday, and especially one in which the Scottish backline cuts loose again, might still seem like the passing of a baton.

Brian O’Driscoll, seemingly undiminished at the age of 34, is the only remaining member of Ireland’s outstanding backline of a decade ago. Coach Declan Kidney’s selection of the uncapped Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson ahead of Ronan O’Gara was another break with the past. Simon Zebo, the outrageously gifted Munster wing and the face of Ireland’s future, has been ruled out with a foot injury.

Scotland has produced back-three players who produced ripples in the past, but only as individuals. It is hard to think of a time when a trio of the calibre of Hogg, Visser and Maitland emerged and showed their collective worth so emphatically. Even Johnson is prepared to drop his guard and admit that he has something special on his hands.

“They have some incredible natural gifts,” the Scotland coach said. “They are all quick, they are all a reasonable size and they’re pretty good in space. That’s a pretty good combination to be successful.

“All three have got weaknesses and need to improve in a couple of areas of the game, but we are showing we have ability. It’s a great asset to have to be able to go the length of the pitch and score. They are at the front of the queue with athletic prowess. I’m glad they’re in my team, put it that way.”

Johnson should also be glad to have Dean Ryan about the place as well. The former Gloucester coach has been looking after the Scottish forwards and his back-to-basics message was heeded to the letter in a breakdown battle against the Italians in which the Scots showed a marked improvement over their timorous display against England seven days ­earlier.

Ireland’s loss to England in Dublin also came down to the fact they lost the gain line contest. Jamie Heaslip, the Irish captain and No 8, looked furious with himself and his side at the finish of that match. Heaslip is out to make amends and he will try to do it with raw ferocity in contact.

The Scots could field Jonah Lomu, David Campese and Prince Obolensky in their backline and still come off second best if Heaslip is allowed to have his way.

As it is, there is a multinational dimension to the Scottish strike force, with Maitland having been raised in New Zealand and Visser in Holland.

Visser’s Dutch accent has almost gone now, but his Dutch outlook has not changed. “Scottish people like to be underdogs,” Visser said. “In Holland it is very much different. We can be perceived as arrogant but we are just very positive and like to think we can do stuff.

"That is something I have seen in Sean as well. He is very positive and knows what he can do and what he can bring to the party. He believes in himself and the rest of the team and that is something we can all definitely learn from.”